Not Zen

Stories on life, death, enlightenment, zen buddhism, religion, philosophy, stoicism, meditation, daoism, kindness but not meekness, and samsara.

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Not Even Not Zen 221: Wake for Robert Gallagher

Wake for Robert Gallagher

Part I, Introduction

Humor Crusader
In Recognition

Part II, Childhood and Adolescence

Elmira and Baltimore
126th Signal Service
Simple Codes
The Arrival of Black Jack
The End of Black Jack

Part III, The Student

Getting Into College 
Visit to Europe
Crazy Roommates
After College
Jobs and More Jobs

Part IV, The Teacher

Overseas
Buying In
To Moscow, With Love
Inside the USSR 
The Soviet Way
Tea, Shchi, Trapeze Artists, and Hula Hoops
Second-Half Teaching

Part V, Parenting Examples

A Young Father 
Remembrance for His Uncle
A Growing Father
Parenting in the Neighborhood
Parenting through College
The College Drive

Part VI, Grandparenting

Advanced Degrees of Support
Catching Ill
Retirement
Full Time Grandfather: Odin
Full Time Grandfather: Dva
Full Time Grandfather: Tri - Radio
Full Time Grandfather: Tri - Morse Code

Part VII, Greater Families

Wrong Turn
Driving Blind
The Good Old Days
Broken Tribes
Spirit Ancestors

Part VIII, Forever Goodbye

The Strategy
Goodbye to Ann, Part I
Goodbye to Ann, Part II
After the Wake
Always in the Library









































Secret Hippie at 5:30 AM
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Secret Hippie

Why Zen?

When I was eight, I sat down in my father's library, got out a book called 'Zen Flesh, Zen Bones' by Paul Reps and read it. When I was nine, I read it again. When I was ten, my father caught me laughing as I flipped to my favorite stories. He questioned me at length - irritated at first but then pleased that I'd moved on to other translations of Buddhist and Zen Buddhist texts by Alan Watts. He said he'd rather I stuck to classical Greek philosophers and so he tried to lure me over to Herodotus. That might have worked if there were any works of note left of the pre-Socratic philosophers. As it was, the Zen and Daoist texts proved superior.

Why Not Zen?

In some ways, I grew up with Eastern philosophies but in most ways I'm traditionally Western. I don't think Zen has gotten it all right or is even the best form of Buddhism. I don't agree with anyone entirely. I haven't received transmission from any religious figure except maybe from everyone, all the time, and only occasionally with intention.

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